Introducing Sing Along With John – and a DVD Giveaway!

19 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Activities for Your Loved One, Behaviors, Caregivers, Giveaways, Helpful Resources, Music and Art, Products, Smiles

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

alzheimers, dementia, music for alzheimers, music therapy

UPDATE: I’ve decided to extend the giveaway a bit longer. Submit an entry now through April 14.

It’s been proven that music provides many benefits to Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, from easing anxiety to improving relationships and boosting engagement.

Many care partners report witnessing an awakening of memories triggered by music, while others note cases where music therapy reduced the need for psychotropic drugs. The bottom line is this: Music is almost guaranteed to fuel happiness, therefore improving overall quality of life. My mom absolutely loved music.

Sing Along With John

I recently stumbled upon a collection of DVDs featuring singer/pianist John Moorhouse whose musical career has spanned over four decades. Music has taken Moorhouse around the world, opening for the likes of Sly & the Family Stone, Deep Purple, and Janis Joplin. These days, he finds great joy in entertaining seniors at retirement and assisted living communities in Ontario, Canada.

Our clients always have a great time when John performs. There are smiles from ear to ear, toes tapping and people up out of their chairs dancing! He brings so much joy to our day center and a pleasure to work with. His talent and enthusiasm are unmatched! -Bonnie Robertson Koepke, Activity Coordinator, VON Adult Day Program and Overnight Respite, Hamilton, ON

The DVD collection, aptly titled Sing Along With John, features six titles, and includes something for just about everyone:

Best of the Crooners (Route 66, Blue Moon, Misty, Ain’t She Sweet)
All Time Sing Along Favourites (Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Bill Bailey, Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue)
Rockin’ Country (San Antonio Rose, Release Me, Take These Chains From My Heart)
Songs of the British Isles (When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Bye Bye Blackbird, I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover)
Old Time Gospel (The Old Rugged Cross, How Great Thou Art, Onward Christian Soldiers)
Christmas Celebration (Jingle Bells, Auld Lang Syne, We Wish You a Merry Christmas)

I previewed Best of the Crooners and thought the format was perfect; the manner in which the video is staged creates a feeling of being right there for a live performance. Each DVD includes a printable songbook and provides the option to display easy-to-read lyrics at the bottom of the screen – perfect for singing along!

Our residents love Sing Along With John DVDs. As soon as the DVD starts to play, everyone starts to sing and they remain engaged for the entire DVD performance. –Lisa Hardisty, Activity Director, Bay Haven, Collingwood, ON

Several facilities report that residents enjoy the Old Time Gospel DVD during on-site church services, while others enthusiastically attest to the happiness and rekindling of memories all of the DVDs spawn.

Music: A Universal Language

The collection, distributed by Roses in Winter Productions, has won fans in assisted living facilities, retirement communities, and Alzheimer’s care centers extending from Canada and the U.S. to England, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia.

As the senior demographic changes, the company plans to produce 1950’s and 1960’s DVDs featuring music for the baby boomer generation. They also intend to produce another gospel DVD in the future.

How Do I Get The DVDs?

The DVDs are available individually as well as in two different sets of three, or the entire collection can be purchased together. While these would certainly be a great addition to the music/video library of any facility, I believe they are equally appropriate for a home setting.

Each DVD contains 10-12 songs (30-40 minutes of music). For more information or to place an order, visit http://singalongwithjohndvds.com.

I’m also very happy to announce that the generous folks at Roses in Winter Productions have sent me five DVDs for YOU! If you’d like to win one, leave a comment on this post and tell me what kind of music you enjoy listening to. I’ll select five random winners on April 1^st. Good luck!!

Giveaway Time!

10 Monday Feb 2014

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Activities for Your Loved One, Caregivers, Giveaways, Helpful Resources, Products

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

alzheimers, caregiving, dementia, dementia activities, mindstart

groundhog Mid-February doldrums getting the best of you? How about a giveaway courtesy of the nice folks at MindStart!?

You might remember reading my post about this company not long ago, and they were kind enough to donate a couple of products from their collection. Thank you, MindStart!

baseballpuzzle The first item up for grabs is a 24-piece baseball themed puzzle, and the second is a beautiful spiritual-themed book (I can’t begin to describe the bold, gorgeous, glossy photographs in this book)!

praisebook

Enter to win by leaving a comment on this post. Just for fun, tell me one of your favorite things about spring where you live!!

I’ll draw two winners on Monday, February 17th!!

Activities Designed With Your Loved One in Mind

05 Sunday Jan 2014

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Activities for Your Loved One, Caregivers, Helpful Resources, Products, Tips

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

alzheimers, alzheimers activities, caregiving, dementia, dementia activities, mindstart

My curiosity was piqued when Monica Heltemes, Occupational Therapist and founder of MindStart, contacted me recently. I began to read about her line of products and felt she had something special and definitely worth sharing!

The Problem

As loved ones progress toward the middle and late stages of dementia, finding appropriate activities can present a challenge. We’d prefer not to offer coloring books and puzzles designed for toddlers, but let’s face it – options are limited. Often, we’re forced to choose between products intended for children or those that are adult-oriented but likely to be too complicated – ultimately a big source of frustration.

elderly-woman Regardless of what stage they are in, dementia patients share a common desire to maintain a life of purpose. As the disease progresses, it’s increasingly critical to remember this need and make every effort to see that it is met. As cognitive function declines, this becomes more difficult; however, remaining as active and engaged as possible is vital to physical and emotional well-being.

The Solution

MindStart products are based on Monica Heltemes’ 15+ years of experience in working with dementia patients. Designs are also influenced by Reisberg’s Theory of Retrogenesis, Allen Cognitive Theory, and many occupational therapy practices.

Four characteristics make them ideal for individuals with cognitive impairment:

Simpler design with fewer steps and less detail
Adult-oriented themes to stimulate memories and encourage reminiscing
An appropriate level of challenge for various stages of dementia
Ease caregiver stress by reducing difficult behaviors and providing engaging activities

A small research study involving MindStart products was conducted at the University of Minnesota and results were encouraging. The study found that because MindStart products are adapted to meet the needs of dementia patients, they tend to require less supervision and assistance from caregivers. The patient is able to work independently, thus they experience more satisfying feelings of success and accomplishment.

Products Adapted for Dementia Patients

mindstart-puzzle As you browse the various products, you’ll note that each one includes a recommendation indicating whether it’s best for high activity (early stage), medium activity (mid-stage), or low activity (late stage).

Some of the items I found particularly interesting include:

This is My Life Memory Book. This book includes space for photos as well as simple text prompts to help individuals record their life story. It is recommended for all stages and is a great way to encourage reminiscing. It’s also an excellent tool to help new caregivers to get to know your loved one.

Praise and Glory Book. This book is also recommended for all levels of activity. It includes well-known hymns and beautiful images to inspire connection to one’s faith. With large print and thick-stock pages that lay flat, it can be used individually, during family visits, or in small groups.

Chat Cards – Baby. My mom, like many dementia patients, absolutely adored babies. Even on her worst days, a visit from a small child always brought a smile to her face. These cards, featuring images of sweet babies along with conversation-starting ideas can help evoke emotions and bring memories to the surface.

Look and Lace cards feature bright images to encourage conversation and awaken memories, but they’re also great for individuals who enjoy working with their hands. According to MindStart, the repetitive nature of lacing activities is especially useful for mid-stage patients.

Be sure to peruse all of the products when you have a chance:

12 and 24-piece puzzles featuring vivid colors and attention grabbing images
Various themed music DVDs
Games, books, and other activities

What activities have you found particularly beneficial for your loved one? One of my mom’s housemates loved folding laundry almost as much as playing games and working puzzles! At the end of the day, we all crave purpose… that doesn’t change when you have dementia.